All Locations > Colorado > Rifle > Rifle Mtn Park

The Crystal Cave Rock Climbing

Climbing Area Map

Routes in The Crystal Cave

L › R R › L A › Z

	Astro-glide S 5.12c 7b+ 27 IX- 27 E6 6b
	Dumpster Barbecue S 5.13d 8b 31 X 32 E8 7a
	Glue Fairy (Under The Gun), The S 5.13 8a 29 X- 30 E7 6c
	Grey Matter S 5.13d 8b 31 X 32 E8 7a

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Elevation:	7,146 ft
GPS:	39.71467, -107.69103 Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views:	9,989 total · 38/month
Shared By:	Orphaned User on Nov 25, 2001
Admins:	Alvaro Arnal, Leo Paik, John McNamee, Frances Fierst, Monty, Monomaniac, Tyler KC Page Updates (admin only)

Description

This cave hosts the shortest (25-30 feet) routes at Rifle but also offers some of the wildest stone, a bizzare formation of down-pointing blue and white fins and sporadic water pockets. While upon first glance these routes may not inspire you, they offer lots of sustained value from the ground to the anchors, and would be plenty long by Clear Creek cave route standards ;)

The arch in the center of the cave is the main attraction and home to the nicest line, Dumpster BBQ. Three other difficult routes grace the slightly chossier walls and bowls to the left and right, all short and powerful as well.

If you're sick of endurance climbing or never liked it in the first place, this is a good place to do some roped bouldering away from the crowds and un-ending pumpfests of most of the Canyon's other areas.

Getting There

Park as for Bauhaus Wall. The parking lot is a pull-out on the right about halfway between the Wasteland and the Project Wall and has a roadside Porta-potty. It can also be recognized by the giant rock scar and (geologically) fresh talus field on the hill above the pull-out.

Talus hop up the aforementioned talus blocks then cut left at the top of the talus field onto super-steep dirt. Thrutch your way up and over the tasty dirt, then amble left to the cave.

The Crystal Cave is directly opposite Bauhaus Wall and is visible from the upper routes on the wall.